What is an APK and How to Install It Safely

Posted by equicos on November 9th, 2020

Google Play Store is a platform with a large selection of applications embedded in it. Users just have to choose the one that suits their Android smartphone, do a few clicks, then in a few minutes a certain application will be installed on the phone. Then what is APK?

While APK is not only cataloged inside the Google Play Store, but also outside the store . If you have the chance to explore possible Android apps outside the Play Store, you will find tons of sites that offer APKs for certain apps. But before installing a particular application using an APK that is outside the Google Play Store, one must first know how to install it safely.

Understanding APK
APK is an extension that stands for Android Package Kit, and it is the file format used to install Android apps. It works much like the installation files in the .EXE format that Windows users are familiar with.

So if you install an Android app outside the Google Play Store, which means you are running a 'sideloading' process, then you have to download and run the APK manually.

Why is APK important to some people? Because several kinds of Android applications from developers usually leak before the release date. So everyone can get access to install certain applications with features that usually interest some people.

But there are also reasons, for example: some apps are not available in the country where your Android is live. So an APK file is needed so you can enjoy the application. However, if your Android phone doesn't have the Google Play Store (for example: Chinese phones where Google services are not there), APK may be the only option to install some apps on your device.

Is the APK safe to install?
There are several cases that show a high level of security of an APK, in the sense that it is not a suspicious program. But in a broader scope, it might be better if we consider that an APK that is separate from the Google Play Store is not a safe way to install certain applications.

Within the Google Play Store itself, certain types of APKs that are unsafe or classified as data-stealing applications can usually be identified easily, and then immediately removed quickly.

So the bottom line is simple: there is no certain protection for APKs downloaded from third party sites. Rogue developers may employ a number of tricks to persuade users to install applications, which turn out to be ransomware or other types of malware. Rogue developers usually disguise malicious apps in such a way that they appear just fine.

Youtube Downloader Software, for example, there are many and Android users can choose one of them. However, most APKs of that kind are very insecure. And badly, Google refuses to give Youtube Downloader a place on their Google Play Store.

Be careful when installing an APK from outside the Play Store, because what you might install is a dangerous application. Because it would be wise if you install all applications from the Google Play Store. Apart from being safer, you will get regular updates of every installed application (unless you don't need it, and choose to download the APK from outside).

If you still insist on installing an APK from outside, you should first install an anti-virus application to ensure the safety of the downloaded program.